When it comes to magic school settings, Harry Potter is often the first fantasy book that comes to mind — but there are many others that feature that beloved backdrop and deserve attention, too. Magical academies appeal to readers for a variety of reasons. Blending the extraordinary with a broadly recognizable setting grounds coming-of-age fantasy stories in something familiar. For those still in school, it also brings a bit of magic to the mundane.
These settings are also an easy means of conveying crucial world-building, as readers can learn about a story’s lore inside the classroom, alongside its lead. It’s no wonder so many great fantasy narratives unfold at least partially in school, and readers who enjoy this trope aren’t limited to Harry Potter to experience it. There are so many novels that utilize it in some capacity, though not all of their academies are as charming as Hogwarts.
Why You Should Trust Me: I’ve been writing about fantasy books for a decade now, and it was my area of expertise while editing at ScreenRant. I’ve read plenty of them, and after growing up with Harry Potter, I’m always game for new stories with magic school settings.
‘The Magicians’ by Lev Grossman
A Bleaker Take on Stories Like ‘Harry Potter’
Readers looking for the anti-Harry Potter should check out The Magicians, as Lev Grossman’s 2009 fantasy novel explores what attending magical school would really look like. The book follows Quentin Coldwater, who grows up reading a beloved fantasy story akin to Harry Potter or The Chronicles of Narnia. When he’s pulled into a real-world magic academy, however, he comes to realize that it won’t solve all his problems — and may even worsen some of them. The Magicians unpacks the tropes so common to fantasy books in a truly compelling way, and its SyFy adaptation is worth watching after finishing the book and its two sequels.
Read This If: You’re game for a bleaker, more mature take on stories like Harry Potter.
Skip This If: You want levity and an uplifting message from your next magic school story.
‘Carry On’ by Rainbow Rowell
A Fun ‘Chosen One’ Story With Major ‘Harry Potter’ Vibes
While The Magicians is the opposite of Harry Potter in many ways, Carry On by Rainbow Rowell is clearly influenced by it. Therefore, it may be an ideal read for those looking for something more similar. The novel picks up during “Chosen One” Simon Snow’s final year at Watford School of Magicks, with his prophesied showdown with an evil villain looming. He’s also navigating complicated feelings for his vampire roommate, who also happens to be his rival. It’s a comical and emotional adventure, and it subverts and deconstructs a lot of the fantasy conventions it weaves in.
Read This If: You’re interested in a charming dissection of the “Chosen One” trope and don’t mind romance.
Skip This If: You’re hoping for completely distinct world-building and lore, and if you’re not here for teen coming-of-age drama.
‘Legendborn’ by Tracy Deonn
A Fresh Take on Arthurian Legend
Legendborn by Tracy Deonn is one of the best young adult fantasy books to come out of the 2020s, and it’s set at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Admittedly, it’s not a genuine magic school, but the book’s heroine uncovers plenty of extraordinary things lurking beneath its surface. When Bree starts her early college program at the institution, she’s thrust into a world of demonic threats and underground Arthurian societies. The novel follows her as she finds her own place in the midst of this, and it’s a gripping and powerful ride.
Read This If: A new spin on Arthurian legend sounds interesting, and if you appreciate fantasy that tackles real-world issues.
Skip This If: You’re looking for an actual magic school, not fantasy infused into an otherwise ordinary setting.
‘Ninth House’ by Leigh Bardugo
A Dark and Mature Approach to Secret Magical Societies
Readers who like the concept of secret magical societies but want something more adult can look to Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo, which also brings dark magic to a real-world university. It takes readers to Yale, where Alex Stern is grappling with PTSD — and her recruitment into the institution’s elite societies, which view her as an asset because she can see ghosts. The novel is a dark one and covers some heavy subjects, but it’s full of intriguing lore, features lovable leads, and contains important discussions about academia.
Read This If: You don’t mind darker fantasy stories and enjoy it when the genre dips into the occult.
Skip This If: You prefer more lighthearted, charming fantasy, especially in a school setting.
‘A Deadly Education’ by Naomi Novik
If Hogwarts Was Trying to Kill Students
Hogwarts has its quirks, but it doesn’t actively try killing its students. That’s more than can be said for A Deadly Education‘s backdrop, the Scholomance, which consistently keeps its students in peril. With zero supervision and deadly monsters to contend with, the book’s characters are left in charge of their own educations — and the not-so-simple task of surviving until graduation. A Deadly Education follows El, who begins to unravel the deeper secrets of the school. It’s a gripping and somewhat short read that puts a memorable twist on magic school stories.
Read This If: You’re looking for a dark, twisted take on the magical academy setting.
Skip This If: You want the usual workings of school, like teachers and proper classes.
‘The Name of the Wind’ by Patrick Rothfuss
A Magical Institution With Very Relatable Challenges
The Name of the Wind is heavily focused on a magic school journey, and Patrick Rothfuss’s fantasy hit puts its university to good use. The book sees the rumored king killer Kvothe telling his life story, which eventually brings him to a place called the University. His motivations for attending the institution include wanting to learn magic and wanting the truth about the person who killed his family. And Kvothe’s time there is compelling but believable. There’s the competitive spirit that makes up many magic school novels, along with an intriguing magic system. There’s also realism baked into Kvothe’s education, which finds him facing relatable problems like finances.
Read This If: Unique storytelling structures and magic systems are draws for you, and you don’t mind realism in your fantasy.
Skip This If: You’re really impatient about sequels and unfinished series. Readers have been waiting for the third and final Kingkiller Chronicle book for a while.
‘A Wizard of Earthsea’ by Ursula K. Le Guin
A Fantasy Classic That Belongs on Every List
Widely regarded as a fantasy classic, A Wizard of Earthsea has a school setting — though it’s worth noting that it eventually moves beyond it. The story follows Ged, who discovers he has magic powers and ends up going to a prestigious school after training with individual mentors proves too slow-moving. The world-building and use of magic in A Wizard of Earthsea are both immensely well done, and it takes its lead on a well-written growth journey. Additionally, the author clearly knows how to spin a lyrical sentence. There’s a reason the 1968 novel has staying power, and it deserves a place on any list of magic school stories.
Read This If: You appreciate thoughtful storytelling and world-building, and you’re a fan of masterful prose.
Skip This If: Modernized fantasy with fast pacing and action is more what you’re searching for.
‘The Will of Many’ by James Islington
Magic School With Revenge as a Motivator
Three years after its debut, The Will of the Many continues to be highly praised, and James Islington’s novel is a magic school story. It’s not the traditional sort, following a character who’s whisked away to such a setting. Instead, it follows a lead who’s attending Catenan Academy for the sake of extracting knowledge and seeking revenge. The institution itself is a dangerous one, lending itself to suspense, and Islington’s hierarchy-based magic system and political intrigue make the novel an all-around great time. It also features a big cliffhanger that will leave readers eager to get their hands on book two.
Read This If: You’re looking for a darker, high fantasy take on magic schools, you love thorough world-building, or you love revenge stories.
Skip This If: A gradual build-up to the meat of the story loses you every time.
‘The Poppy War’ by R.F. Kuang
One of the Darkest Trips to a Magic Academy You’ll Ever Take
The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang is only set at a fantastical academy for the first half of the novel, and it’s not for anyone looking for an uplifting hero’s journey. The book takes dark and surprising turns throughout, but it does follow its main character to a military academy, where she discovers she’s a shaman. Her time at that institution is frustrating and eager to unpack the greater issues with academia. There are highlights of the school setting, though, like Rin’s eccentric mentor and the competitive classes she takes on.
Read This If: You don’t mind a truly grim fantasy experience, and you appreciate corruption stories.
Skip This If: Fantasy based heavily on real-world history doesn’t interest you, or you want something with a likable lead who’s easy to root for.
‘Fourth Wing’ by Rebecca Yarros
School Would Be Much Better With Dragons
Anyone who reads a lot of fantasy has likely heard of Fourth Wing, as Rebecca Yarros’s 2023 novel is nothing short of a viral phenomenon. Those who haven’t given it a chance should dive in, especially if they’re looking for a fantasy school story with the comforting familiarity of Harry Potter. You wouldn’t think you’d get that from a novel that’s set at a military academy where survival is an everyday challenge. However, the characters, classes, and dragons jump off the pages and embed themselves in readers’ hearts and minds. There’s also plenty of banter, friendship, and romance. It’s no wonder the book is as big as it is.
Read This If: You’re looking for the lovable characters and bonds that drive stories like Harry Potter.
Skip This If: You prefer romance to take a backseat in your fantasy stories, or if you don’t like dragons. (Who doesn’t like dragons?!)
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
